You’re paying more, getting less: NM named worst state for taxpayers

The Piñon Post ^ | March 26, 2025 | Piñon Post staff

[CedarDave]

As Tax Day approaches on April 15, a new WalletHub report ranks New Mexico dead last in the nation for taxpayer return on investment (ROI), raising serious questions about how effectively state government uses public funds.

The annual study from WalletHub evaluated all 50 states using 29 metrics across five key categories: education, health, safety, economy, and infrastructure & pollution. New Mexico ranked 50th overall despite having one of the highest tax burdens in the country.

The state placed near the bottom in nearly every category:

49th in education 42nd in health 50th in safety 45th in economy 34th in infrastructure and pollution 48th in total taxes per capita

“There can be a tradeoff between how much tax you pay and what you receive in return from the government,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “Several of the states with the best taxpayer ROI don’t charge any income tax… At the same time, while people pay more in states that do charge income tax, they may benefit from better infrastructure, education, safety or public health as a result.” But New Mexico, he implied, is not among those states.

Despite high tax revenues, the report indicates that New Mexico struggles to deliver high-quality public services. The state’s ranking of 50th in public safety is especially alarming, given ongoing concerns about violent crime and law enforcement shortages. Its poor education score also highlights persistent challenges in student performance and graduation rates.

“Everyday citizens can assess the return on investment of their tax dollars by examining how efficiently their local and state governments convert revenue into high-quality public services,” said Min Su, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Louisiana State University. “Efficiency is not simply about spending less; it is about spending wisely to achieve the best possible outcomes.”

[CedarDave]

Entire article at the link.

[CedarDave]

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[CondoleezzaProtege]

Bookmark

[BipolarBob]

Land of Enchantment . . except for taxpayers.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

California-copying Democrats behaving like California Democrats without California Money.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It’s a crappy state for Hollyweird directors too.

[RightOnTheBorder]

Land of Entrapment

[Fractal Trader]

When all the votes are rigged, the government loses accountability for its actions on taxes and elsewhere.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Meaning the directors don’t enjoy it? I thought NM was becoming a film hub…

[Tijeras_Slim]

It was an Alec Baldwin joke.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

also interesting the late Gene Hackman had chosen to retire there.

[ansel12]

Most Famous Celebrities Who Live in New Mexico-2023
Neil Patrick Harris
Julia Roberts
Val Kilmer
Shirley MacLaine
Holly Holm
Oprah Winfrey
Gene Hackman
Bill Gates
Dennis Hopper

[Tijeras_Slim]

There’s a lot of pretty and pleasant places here. I’ve been in the mountains east of Albuquerque 30 years and enjoy the quiet, the scenery and my neighbors (not to close by but we look out for each other).

[Drago]

If you want to skip the ad-infested “Pinion Post” page, the full WalletHub article is here:

https://wallethub.com/edu/state-taxpayer-roi-report/3283

[Governor Dinwiddie]

That state didn't work out too well for Gene Hackman either.

[FLT-bird]

Without the Gaia Worship, New Mexico could be considerably richer than they are. New Mexico actually has lots of oil shale and could be a much bigger energy producer - and could benefit from all those well paid jobs and the tax revenues - if they’d take the shackles off of the Frackers, but they won’t do it.

[FLT-bird]

Dennis Hopper died in 2010.

[USAF1985]

I have to go there several times a year for my job. It absolutely sucks, and I dread going there. The smart people who work in Albuquerque live east of Tijeras on the eastern side of the mountains.

[mewzilla]

taxpayer return on investment

Investment???

Is that what we're calling legalized theft now?!

Investment?

🤣🤣🤣🤣

...

🤬

[ansel12]

Yeah, I just grabbed the list off the net as a general idea, the celebrities come and go and the names change, but New Mexico does attract the rich and famous, as well it should.

Areas like Taos and Santa Fe are a different and private environment for people who want beauty and privacy and have the money for a second home there, or as a primary home for retirement or semi-retirement as they age and fade, and as an escape from Los Angeles and NYC, this has been true for generations, a hideout state for them.